Closure device for metallic containers



June 26, 1934. J w SHERA CLOSURE DEVICE FOR METALLIC- CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 29. 1932 Patented June 26 1934 UNITED PAT NT OFFECE CLOSURE DEVICE FOR METALLIC CONTAINERS Application February 29,

3 Claims.

My invention relates to closure devices for openings in metallic containers of that character particularly (but not exclusively) adapted for the transportation, storage, etc., of gasoline,-

oil and the like.

The principal object of my invention is to provide simple and inexpensivemeans for the conversion of so-called inner type of closures to the so-called outer type.

A further object is to provide adapter means which may readily and quickly be applied to containers already manufactured and in use, whereby, in such preconstructed containers, the advantages aiforded by the so-called outer type 15 closure structures may be obtained in a simple and inexpensive manner.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by ref erenceto the drawing wherein:-

no Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view of one form of closure structure embodyingmy invention; t

Fig. 2 is a separated vertical, sectional view of the adapter member shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a complete closure assembly embodying the structure of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the container wall (which may be the head of a drum, barrel, or the like), is provided with an opening definedby a depending circular flange 11. The container wall around the flange 11 is provided with an annular'boss 12 defining a pocket 13 of which may take any well known irregular outline shape and in which is received the similarly-shaped horizontal flange 14 of an internally-threaded bushing 15. The bushing 15 is gradually reduced in thickness from its threads to its inner end and this thinned portion is turned outwardly over and upon the inner edge of the flange 11 to positively secure the bushing 15 in place, the irregular shape of its flange 14 and pocket 13 preventing rotation thereof. A gasket 16, or a suitable sealing compound, is disposed between the bushing flange 14 and the bottom of the pocket 13 to seal the same against leakage. .The structure so far described is similar to that disclosed in the Schwartz Patent' No. 1,513,637, granted October 28, 1924, and in certain cases the opening defined by the bushing 15 may be closed by a threaded plug of any well known and suitable'form (not shown applied). This form of closure'may be referred to as of the inner type.

In certain instancesja so-called outer type of closure may be desired-in which the closure 1932, Serial No. 595,68?!

structure may be completely sealed in a tamperproof manner by an outer-applied seal cap of a character non-removable without destroying further usefulness of the same and. without detection. 4

To the foregoing end, and in converting the above-described structure, I provide an adapter ring or collar having a cylindrical body of larger diameter at one end than at the other. The smaller diameter portion 1'7 is externally threaded and the larger diameter portion is internally threaded and is, preferably, of the same inside diameter as the inside diameter of the bushing 15 and the outside diameter of the smaller portion 17 (Fig. 2). The portion l7" of this collar is adapted to be screwed into the bushing15 (Figs. 1. and 3) and is securely fixed therein by any suit-able adhesive, sealing and binding compound such as, for example, litharge applied to the threaded connection between these ,parts. The variable diameter portions of the collar provide a shoulder 17 which seats upon the top of bushing 15 and the extent that the former may be screwed into the latter. The outer edge of the collar portion 17 is flared slightly outward and rolled to provide a bead 18 and a seat 19 tapering outwardly from the uppermost of the threads 17 to the top of the bead 18.

The enlarged portion 17 of the collar is'adapted to receive a threaded plug 20 which has the. underside of its head 20 cut away as illustrated at 20 in Fig. 3; It is to be "understood, however, that the shape of the plug may vary and that, preferably, the same size plug fits both the col lar and the bushing 15. In the form shown in the drawing, the plug supports, beneath its head 20*, a gasket 21, and the relative angles of the seat 19 and the plug head surface 20 are such that, when the plug is screwed inwardly the gasket 21 will be engaged and compressed as shown in Fig. 3, thus sealing the plug. After the plug 20 is inserted, the seal is completed by a thin metallic cap 22 applied, preferably, by a tool of a character adapted to grippingly engage the cap skirt 22 and move it radially inwardly against the adjacent surface of the bead 18, which bead serves, upon continuation of this movement, to translate such movement into an axial one to seat the cap upon the top of the closure and to secure it behind the bead. A gasket 23 is interposed between the bead 18 and the adjacent surface of the cap for additionally sealing, and insuring against leakage under all transportation and storage conditions. The seal cap 22, applied in the manner stated, cannot be removed without fracture which destroys its further usefulness, and tampering with the same can be readily detected.

From the foregoing, the objects and advantages hereinabove stated will be obvious. Containers in use may be readily, quickly and cheaply converted to a form capable of being sealed by a cap such as shown in Fig. 3. This may be done without special tools and by the ordinary user.

It is to be understood that, while I have shown and described only one form of my invention, other changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims which follow. For example, the adapter ring 17 may be applied to forms of closures otherv than that particularly shown and described herein, it being well suited to any form of closure, for conversion and other purposes, which is adapted to receive its threaded portion. 17

I claim:

1. In structure of the character described,

means providing a. threaded opening in a wall wall opening and internally threaded, said difof the container, an adapter collar having a lower externally threaded portion adapted to engage the threads of said opening and an upper internally threaded portion, said collar having its upper portion tapered outwardly from its threaded part and terminating in a bead extending therearound, a closure plug mounted in the upper threaded portion of said collar, and a seal cap mounted over said plug and having its skirt adapted to be secured behind said bead.

2. In structure of the character described, means providing a threaded opening in a wall of the container, an adapter collar having one end externally threaded and adapted to be screwed into said opening, and having its other end internally threaded and enlarged to the diameter of said wall opening, a threaded plug adapted S5 to be screwed into the enlarged portion of said collar, and a seal cap adapted to be mounted over the outer end of said enlarged collar portion and said plug, the outer end of said enlarged collar gortion being formed to provide an enlarged bead behind which the skirt of said cap is secured.

3. In structure of the character described, means providing a threaded opening in a wall of the container, an adapter collar having one end part externally threaded to engage said opening and the remainder thereof enlarged in diameter to substantially the diameter of said ferent-sized portions of said collar providing an external shoulder which seats upon said openingforming means around said opening, and means engaging the internal threads of said collar for closing the opening defined by said collar.

JOHN W. sHERA. 

